CHRISTENSEN SAYS RAID CAUSE FOR CONCERN

The image of police officers removing files from the Legislature has
Okanagan Vernon MLA Tom Christensen worried about the political fallout.

RCMP and Victoria police raided two offices in the Legislature Sunday -
belonging to assistants of the finance and transportation ministers. The
raids are part of a broader investigation into the sale of marijuana and
other alleged activities.

While no elected officials or the government are the focus of the
investigation, Christensen admits that a raid on the Legislature is
extremely troubling.

"I'm absolutely concerned about it and every British Columbian would be
concerned of the image," he said.

Few details have been released by the police, and Christensen believes that
could allow for public speculation and a negative impact on the Liberals.

"I wouldn't be truthful if I didn't say I wasn't concerned about it. But
the police have made it clear that no one in elected office is linked to
the investigation," he said.

"The investigation will proceed and they (police) are doing their job.
Everyone in government will co-operate where necessary."

The raid came at the same time that Premier Gordon Campbell is in Hawaii.
Opposition politicians have demanded he cut his holidays short.

"The premier should end his holiday in Maui and return to B.C. The public
needs to be reassured that the affairs arising from this scandal will not
interfere in the conduct of government and the public interest," said Jenny
Kwan, NDP MLA.

"That being said, I am not suggesting that the premier's return is
necessary for the conduct of the investigation into the matter itself. In
fact, the premier and the solicitor general and other elected officials and
political staff should remain completely removed from the conduct of the
investigation unless, of course, they are the subject of it."

Christensen is quick to shoot down Kwan's calls for Campbell to return to B.C.

"The premier is on a well deserved holiday. It's not his office or any
office of the government that's under investigation," said Christensen.

"I can assure everyone that if there was any reason that the premier needed
to be involved, he'd be here in a second."